Change of Plans

by Sarah Dessen

From acclaimed and #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah Dessen comes a “sweet, nuanced, and reflective coming-of-age love story” ( Kirkus Reviews, starred review) about an unassuming girl who learns to stand on her own while falling in love during a life-changing summer.

Finley has always felt most comfortable in someone else’s shadow. Fortunately, she’s got Colin, her magnetic boyfriend, who sweeps her along for activities, friendships, and future plans. Then she goes on a last-minute trip with her distant mom to a family vacation house that Finley didn’t know existed and is now about to be sold.

Her mom was estranged from her own parents and siblings since leaving home for college, and it’s a novelty for Finley to see her aunts and cousins. There’s also the handful of teens who work at the Egg, her aunt’s diner, and make up a found family of their own—including undeniably handsome guitarist Ben.

Then her relationship with Colin goes into freefall, and Finley’s roadmap for life after high school is gone. She has no choice but to live, for the first time, without plans. The longer Finley stays, the closer she gets to the truth about why her mother stayed away—and why she’s brought Finley here now.

And the closer she grows to new friends at the Egg, the more she starts to fall for charmingly awkward, soulful Ben and to realize how much of herself she’s been missing. By the end of the summer, nothing will be the same—for this community or for Finley herself.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Summer, Coming Of Age, Teen, Summer Reads

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 5, 2026

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

WAR IS OVER SARAH DESSEN HAS A NEW BOOK!!

An update: I GOT THE ARC LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!!!

The Review:

Change of Plans feels like coming home.

I grew up on a healthy diet of Sarah Dessen and revisiting her now has been so nostalgic and lovely. (I say this while Saint Anything still gets a yearly reread)

In many ways this is a classic SD coming of age. We get the character growth, the swoony summer romance, family drama, and a wonderfully quirky cast of secondary characters. Ben was very sweet and I love how different he felt to the typical YA boyfriend, I also appreciated how Ben and Finley mirrored Sydney and Mac from Saint Anything in several ways. I don’t know if it was intentional, but it was a nice homage.

There were a few things I didn’t love. One, it takes a bit to really get a grasp of this novel and get invested in the characters. I was hoping it would grab be right away and it really is a grower of a novel. I also wanted more of a resolution with Finley’s mom, that whole side plot felt a little half-baked. And on that, I think we could have used a few extra chapters to really take our time with the resolution. Sarah really loves to end on a high and I appreciate that, especially because that feels very indicative of the YA category, but I think we needed a bit more time to get where we did.

A big thank you to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for letting me revisit my teen years for a few hundred pages.

[Emily]

Sarah Dessen is coming back and I’m ready to get nostalgic and pretend to be my teenage self for a few hundred pages 😭✨

[Book Riot Community]

Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:

A queen of YA is back with her first novel since 2019. This story follows a girl named Finley, whose life is upended when her mother announces they're spending the summer at a family vacation house that Finley didn't know existed. Finley's thrown into meeting aunts and cousins that she's never spent time with before, and she's found community in the teens who work at her aunt's diner. She's also developing feelings for a local boy at the same time her relationship with long-time boyfriend Colin begins to falter. It's a story of a girl finding herself, her voice, and her passion–something Dessen's always done so well. —Kelly Jensen

[Sarah (bookofsari) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one hurts to write…

Sarah Dessen was the author of my teen years, so I was ridiculously excited for her first new release in about seven years. Truly, I went into Change of Plans ready to be emotionally wrecked in the best way. Unfortunately… this was not the return I wanted. Sarah whyyyyyy.

I could barely keep up with this book—not because it was complex, but because everything felt oddly all over the place while also being painfully slow. The pacing dragged, the storyline felt unfocused, and I kept waiting for it to click. It never did. Most of the book follows Finley working at a diner, and I’m sorry, but it was boring. Not cozy-boring. Just boring.

The secondary characters didn’t help. They weren’t memorable or particularly likable, which is wild because side characters are usually one of Dessen’s biggest strengths. Here, they all blurred together, and I felt zero attachment to the found-family vibe the story clearly wanted me to love.

I also don’t want to spoil anything, but the storyline involving Finley’s mom was handled so poorly. It’s a plotline that desperately needed emotional depth, and instead it felt brushed over—then randomly brought up again like it was supposed to hit hard. It didn’t. At all.

Everything just felt out of place, like familiar Dessen elements thrown together without the heart that used to make them work. I hate saying this, but the book felt stale.

I’ll always read whatever Sarah Dessen writes—but this one? A disappointing 2 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cassie]

YES!! A new Sarah Dessen book! FINALLY!

[szreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg my fav as a kid/teen is publishing a new book?? I’m so ready 🥹😭 brb while I get nostalgic af


*immediately pre orders*

[Kara Sabbagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all… I really love what they did with the cover design of this book and it is SO exciting to have Miss. Dessen’s writing back !!!! The first half of this book was so much of me screaming crying kicking my feet just excited and delighted to be in her mind and experiencing the opportunity to read her words on the page again. There are so many things she has such an unmatched ability to do. Some of my favorite skills of hers that I can’t commend enough are making locations such strong characters in her stories. Making small moments savory. I love how observational her FMC’s are. They are taking in so much and it REALLY places her readers into special moments in such visceral ways. I was also STUNNED at how iconic and juicy of an intro this book had??? She knocked love interest Collin Out of the Parrrrrkkkkkkkkkk. He was GOOD !!!

*Spoilers*

That being said, Ben did NOTHING for me. Negative nothing. I lowkey found him to be toxic and their entire courtship honestly a HORRIBLE example for young girls. Why the immediate rebound? Why is he constantly self deprecating? Boooo, tomato. It almost had me wondering if he was an editor required add in? Like the love interest that simply ~was not~.

The strength in this story was the family, friendships, and personal growth for me. Her jumping into ANOTHER guy, rather than the strength being her standing on her own… that was a tough pill to swallow for me.

The first half of this book, the restaurant of it all, our main character finding her own worth and the value of a hard day with a team … so good. The story got a little bit muddied at the end, but overall an enjoyable read.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Sarah Dessen book! She’s a beloved author of YA contemporaries (I had no idea the Mandy Moore movie “How to Deal” is based on two of her books) but for some reason, I had never read anything by her. It’s always been in the back of my mind to give one of her books a try so here I am, reading her newest release.

My expectations were super high going into this, which might have actually worked to the book’s detriment. I’ve heard people praise this author’s stories and character work, but while I liked the story and characters fine, nothing about this really stood out to me.

First off, it took forever for me to figure out who was who. Finley’s mom’s sisters (her aunts) seemed like the same person to me and I could never remember who was who. I thought Cardoon (definitely the strangest name I’ve come across in a book, and I’ve read Colleen Hoover!) was in his 50s but I think he was college age? Maybe? Most of the secondary characters were introduced in one big lump so it was hard to remember who was who and how they knew or were related to Finley.

The story itself was pretty slow. Finley spent a lot of time working in the family(? I think? I’m pretty sure her aunt owned it) diner and as such there was a lot of time spent taking and filling orders, and life working in a busy restaurant. I did like seeing Finley come into her own as she realized how much she depended on her boyfriend.

But for me, the biggest letdown was the ending (or lack thereof). I’ve heard this author’s other books have had neatly wrapped up endings. Not the case here. This one was totally open. Finley got together with Ben but that’s literally it. What happened to the mother’s cancer? Did they sell the family home? It seemed like they didn’t want to and everyone had bonded with the place but then there was an estate sale and…I don’t know. What about Lana? Did she and Cardoon stay together? And the cousin’s issues with her husband’s family? The book just sort of ended, and it felt like something was missing for me. And the whole reason for the mother self exiling from her family was ridiculous. The entire thing was due to a lack of communication. I couldn’t stand the mother.

Overall I found this to be a fairly average read, but I’m still looking forward to reading more of her backlist.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved Sarah Dessen books since I was 13 so when my 32 year-old self got approved for this ARC, I did a little dance around the house (ask my husband). I was a bit nervous to read a YA book again since they’re normally but my cup of tea anymore, but Sarah will ALWAYS be an exception.

After 7 years, it was SO good to be back in Lakeview and North Shore Lake - my homes away from home. This book had everything I loved in a Sarah Dessen book - a teenager trying to find her way, a sweet love interest, some family drama, and a found family. There were also little nods to previous Sarah Dessen books that made me kick my feet when they appeared on the page.

This was definitely one of the more.. Emotional Sarah Dessen books. There were a lot of times my heart sank for these characters, but the family they created really shined through and made it such a special read. I loved Finley’s growing relationship with her aunts, cousin, mom, and loved watching her friendships with Lana, Clark, and Ben grow. She really surprised me as a character, overall and she grew a lot with deciding what she wanted and asking for it.

Initially I gave this book a 5 star, but I pushed it down to 4.75 after thinking it over. I do feel like the ending was left unfinished… There was so much left up in the air and subplots left unfinished that could’ve had another 50ish pages or an epilogue AT LEAST to wrap things up.. But maybe that was done on purpose and maybe this isn’t our last summer at The Woods?

**Thank you to Simon and Schuster, Netgalley, and the author for a copy of the e-book in exchange for a honest review**

[Megan Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me some Sarah Dessen. My teenage heart is so full right now.

I greatly enjoy that her characters have depth without being a explicit of raunchy. I also greatly enjoy that she talks about themes that are relevant.

Who else has almost let their whole world become the person you’re dating almost losing yourself?

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC and thank you Sarah dessen for the book after 7 years

[Morgan L · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was wonderful to read a book by Sarah Dessen again. I think it could have used another 100 pages or so to really dive deeper into a lot of the side characters and subplots. There was a lot going on and I was really interested, but wanted more.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED Sarah Dessen growing up. And this book had a lot of my favorite Sarah Dessen staples -- loveable side characters, female friendships, and subverting of stereotypical plotlines. People who loved Keeping the Moon in particular will enjoy this!

[Cassey Forck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used to devour Sarah Dessen books as a young adult and even now in my 30s it’s no different. Couldn’t put it down.

[Ammie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m happy to see Sarah Dessen writing again after several years off but Change of Plans was not the triumphant return I’d hoped for. SD was a huge part of my teenage and young adult reading, but aging out of her isn’t the problem here. First, there were so, so many characters in this book that were really hard to keep straight. (Except Cardoon- what kind of name is Cardoon? Also I thought he was 50, at least.) The cafe scenes were fun if not over explained. The friendship she finds with Lana is sweet. Everything else is just mid, including the boy. I’m hoping SD comes back soon with a return to form to help me forget the issues with this one. Give me This Lullaby, Keeping the Moon, or Just Listen vibes pleaseeeee.

[Annie M.]

feeling normal about reading the ARC, in print no less.
while this particular entry into the dessen-verse wasn’t for me, it’s great to have her back ✨

[Ana Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Sarah Dessen in middle and high school and I clearly still love her now. I didn’t want to put this book down! It was somewhat predictable, but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable to read. I kept picking it up any free chance I got so I could finish and confirm my predictions. I felt like the story could have gone on a little longer to wrap up some loose ends, but it was still a nice satisfying ending anyway!

[Kennedy Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

got lucky enough to read an arc of this. i’ve been reading sarah dessen books for over a decade and she still has me in a chokehold.

[talia ♡]

it's literally the return of the queen (first sarah dessen book in 7 years!!)

[Sky]

SARAH IS BACK?! I CAN'T WAIT TO READ! So nostalgic

[Sascha · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do after you’ve read and reviewed a bad book? You find one that you know won’t disappoint. Sometimes serendipity comes to your rescue such as when I saw Sarah Dessen’s latest novel (her first since 2019!!!) pop up in a “read now” email. The book gods were smiling on me! Thank you book gods! Sometimes I feel awesomely lucky!☺️🍀🌠 Did Change of Plans meet my expectations? Read on!

For two years, Colin and Finley’s names have been intertwined. Now they have graduated from high school with the intention of attending the same university in the autumn. But first, Colin is going on a cruise with his family, a cruise that Finley was invited on but which occurred during her mother’s time to have her and her mother had made plans for a New York City excursion. So, Colin will go on a cruise while Finley and her mother tour NYC. Except that on the day of their trip, Finley’s mother informs her that they’re going somewhere else. To Woods. To a lake house that’s been in her mother’s family. How did Finley never know about this house? This is one of many revelations for Finley, some of which include discoveries about herself in Sarah Dessen’s beautiful Change of Plans.

Reading a Sarah Dessen novel is a lot like revisiting an old friend you always click with. The prose is exquisite, the pacing smooth, the characters layered and frequently quirky. For a little while, a new world exists for the reader. And this reader tried to stall the last page of this novel for as long as she could, yet somehow despite trying to savor, I finished far too quickly.

Finley is an observer. She was certainly an observer in her relationship with Colin. She liked that he was the center of attention in every room he walked in, that way she didn’t have to be anything but a person comfortably in the shadows. When Colin dumps her on the first day of his cruise, Finley initially falls apart. What about all of their plans? Who is she without Colin? But finally Finley can be her own person. Slowly over the course of several weeks in which Finley learns about her mother’s two sisters, her cousin Ann who is getting married, and helps at a chaotic breakfast diner, she changes. She starts becoming a person who doesn’t need to hide in the shadows, especially when it matters most.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Sarah Dessen without a little romance, and, actually, this one has lots of romance. There must be something in the water. For Finley, it comes in the form of Ben who is the antithesis of Colin. They might both play the guitar, but for Ben it’s an expression of who he is, not something to attract attention with. Ben is quiet, almost enigmatic, a true foil to Colin. One of the sweetest moments comes when Ben gifts Finley a landline phone. It might not sound like much but it’s existence means a great deal to Finley.

Change of Plans exists from these small moments, the small gestures, small kindnesses and observations, until the need for grand gestures beckons. Likewise, characters don’t evolve in large ways but more subtly, as people do change. Both Finley and her mother undergo extensive transformations so that by the end of the novel, they are more and have more, and become more for themselves, their family, and friends. They–especially Finley’s mother–have to deal with emotions they aren’t comfortable with in situations they are not comfortable with. It’s a gentle, beautiful novel that I felt good reading.

One of the lovely things about reading and reviewing a book like this is that I never want to stop talking about it, but must because I have to leave something for you to read. Sarah Dessen’s version is much more appealing than my just talking about it anyway.

I hope we don’t have to wait another seven years for another Sarah Dessen novel. Hopefully the book gods and Sarah Dessen can see to that.

Many thanks to Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finley has a somewhat complicated but pleasant life; she lives with her father, stepmother, and two young stepsiblings, and spends some time each year with her high powered, corporate mother, Catherine. She's been dating the charming Colin for two years, and spending plenty of time with his family. The two plan to attend the same college, and are supposed to go on a cruise with Colin's whole family to celebrate their high school graduation. Instead, Catherine demands that Finley come with her, not to New York City as they had planned, but to her coastal hometown to help sell her parents' home. Finley has never met her relatives or even heard about them, so it's quite the shock. Her mother left her close knit family and hasn't looked back, so Finley has to get to know aunts Kasey and Liz during a particularly stressful time. Not only is the ancestral home needing to be cleaned out, it's going to be razed by the owners of the huge resort, The Tides. Kasey runs a local diner, The Egg, that is getting business from the resort, and Liz's daughter Anne is getting married in three weeks to Jonathan, whose parents frequent the resort and have very clear expectations about how the wedding should be planned. On top of that, Colin dumps Finley over the phone while he is on the cruise, and Finley finds out that her mother has been keeping a secret about her health. Luckily, Finley enjoys working at her aunt's diner, which needs more staff, and meets the charming musician Ben, with whom she connects. The house is cleaned out and the contents auctioned, Anne's wedding is an off and on prospect, and there is a brief moment of hope when an environmental survey reveals that the family property has a number of rare species on it. Will Finley be able to navigate all of the tense, emotional moments that are thrown her way during what should have been a fun summer break?
Good Points
Dessen does such a great job at portraying older teens in complicated but fun settings; her 2009 Along for the Ride is one of my favorite teen romance books! While I'm not usually a fan of sad books with lots of problems, Dessen's characters usually face realistic challenges with a good sense of humor. There are certainly lots of tears; Finley is devastated when Colin dumps her, but she manages to make the best of the situation and to move on quickly with Ben, which seems completely realistic.

There are so many family homes that need to be cleaned out, and teens are bound to get drawn into that, It's a tense, emotional time, and there is the added stress of Catherine's long absence, family secrets, and community challenges that make Finley's experience more traumatic but also more interesting. There are interesting side stories, like Anne's wedding, waitress Lana's difficult life, and Colin's regret, that add a bit more texture to the story.

Dessen's work has been popular with my middle school students, and this book might work well for them; there is a bit of underage drinking, but it generally isn't portrayed as a good idea. Finley and Ben don't have too many chances to have private moments, and their romance is very mild.

Romance books have been increasingly popular in my library, so this is a great summer vacation story to hand to readers who enjoyed Boyce's Dating and Dragons, Eulberg's Love Stories or Take a Chance on Me, West's Borrow My Heart, or Cicatelli-Kuc Mint to Be.

[Rebeccah Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you as always to NetGalley and Simon & Shuster for the ARC! As usual, all opinions are 100% my own.

I will say, first and foremost, that I am a big Dessen fan. So when I saw she had a new book coming out for the first time in seven (!!) years, I was definitely excited. And grateful that I was able to get an ARC of her latest work. But on to the synopsis.

We meet Finley, a girl who just graduated high school alongside her boyfriend, Colin.

Colin is, in a word, a lot. He is a magnetic person, and Finley is just along for the ride. She is his shadow. His activities, his friends, and his plans? They became equally hers. Summer seems like the ideal time to relax and enjoy a restful time before the two go off to the same college. Him, off on a cruise, and while she was hoping to join him, instead she’ll be spending the mandated week with her distant mother, supposedly in New York.

But when things change at the last minute, Finley finds herself at her mother’s childhood home, meeting (and re-meeting) a family she barely knew existed. Her mother was estranged from the family until now, when she and her sisters gather to finally sell their childhood home at Finley’s mom’s sudden insistence.

What Finley doesn’t expect, however, is for Colin to suddenly initiate a break up the first day they’re apart. With her whole future and her own identity suddenly uncertain, Finley has to make her own way and figure out who she is without Colin.

Thankfully, she’s got her two aunts, her cousin, and the employed teens at her aunt’s diner, The Egg, to count on when family secrets, and the reason for her mother’s sudden reappearance are brought to light.

I have been a Sarah Dessen fan for many, many years, and have read her books over and over. So I will say, from the start, this is a very quintessential Dessen novel. Meaning, among other things, that this book has a lot of her staples that we see in many Dessen books.

What I find interesting, though, is that she is now expanding her world farther, taking the town we saw in her last novel (The Rest of the Story), North Lake, and expanding on it. The story does start in Lakeview, but it quickly relocates, and I did enjoy the change of scenery. Admittedly, there’s significantly less easter eggs (maybe five tops) to her other works minus the obvious callbacks from “Story” and their mutual setting.

What I will say, however, is that Finley is very much like many of Dessen’s protagonists, and you could easily interchange her for another. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you are already a fan and like her previous works. But I did feel a little disappointed that it felt so similar, especially with having such a drastic amount of time between her last novel and now.

Overall, I did like the story, and I think Ben, the romantic interest, and Colin, the boyfriend, especially, felt different from the boys of Dessen novels past. And that was enjoyable, as well as unexpected.

I did like that we continue to see different and more complex familial dynamics, like in “Story”. And of course the more difficult issues they are covered in this book are definitely not ones that I have seen in any of Dessen’s previous works.

Overall, it is a good book, and I did enjoy it. Was it worth a seven year wait, maybe not, but that’s just my thoughts. Overall, if you are a Dessen fan, you will enjoy “Change of Plans”, and I think it’s another lovely addition to the growing world of Sarah Dessen.

[Breanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
Finley has it all planned out. After taking a graduation trip to New York City with her mother, she’ll start college in the fall with her boyfriend Colin. However, Finley’s plans get derailed when her boyfriend breaks up with her and she is whisked off to North Lake to help her mother sell her family’s lakehouse.

North Lake is full of surprises that Finley did not plan for—discovering family secrets, forging new friendships while working at a restaurant called The Egg, falling for the awkward but sweet Ben, and enjoying carving her own path instead of living in someone else’s shadow.

Review:
I have been a fan of Sarah Dessen’s work since high school! Every year, I’d check out her books from the school library and re-read them.

Change of Plans utilizes many of Sarah Dessen’s trademarks that I loved in her previous books—a female protagonist not quite sure of herself, a dreamy lakeside town, a quirky cast of secondary characters, and one unforgettable summer. However, these elements didn’t exactly strike the same chord as her previous novels did for me.

Finley is similar to Sarah Dessen’s other female protagonists. Her summer job working at the Egg reminded me of Macy’s catering job with Wish in The Truth About Forever, and her late night meetings with her crush Ben were reminiscent of Auden’s late night adventures with Eli in Along for the Ride. As a result, while I liked her character and enjoyed watching her growth throughout the story, it was hard to distinguish her from some of Sarah Dessen’s other leads.

One of Sarah Dessen’s biggest strengths are her memorable side characters. There were a lot of secondary characters in this novel, and admittedly, at first, it was hard to keep straight who was who. However, as the story progressed and their personalities became clearer, I fell in love with them just as I had with her other books in the past!

The strongest part of the novel was how well Sarah Dessen depicts the complexities of family relationships. The novel centers on how Finley struggles to connect with her mother who has been somewhat absent from her life, and on how Finley’s mother has been estranged from her siblings for a long time due to family secrets. Seeing these relationships grow and heal over the course of the story was one of my favorite parts of the book.

One relationship, however, that I did not find as compelling was the romance between Finley and Ben. I like how Ben was a little bit awkward because it made him stand out from some of Sarah Dessen’s other male protagonists. However, I didn’t find him to be quite as layered, so I didn’t feel quite as emotionally invested in his character. Furthermore, while there were some cute and sweet moments between Finley and Ben, their relationship didn’t quite grip me like her romances in her other books. I actually felt more invested in the romances between the secondary characters, particularly that one between Anne and her fiancé.

Finally, I love how Sarah Dessen includes so many callbacks to previous books! It was fun to see some characters from her last novel reappear since it takes place in the same lake town. However, I also caught some references to her earlier books as well.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been reading Sarah Dessen for years, and there’s something undeniably comforting about returning to her storytelling. She has a way of capturing those transitional moments in life — the quiet shifts that happen internally before anyone else can see them. This newest novel carries that familiar warmth, though with a slightly more reflective and subdued tone.

Finley begins the story as someone who has always felt more comfortable blending into the background. Being part of a “we” with her boyfriend Colin gave her structure, direction, and identity. When that relationship suddenly unravels, especially at a time when her future already feels uncertain, she’s left facing a version of herself she hasn’t really taken the time to know.

The unexpected trip with her mother to a long-hidden family lake house becomes more than just a change of scenery. It opens the door to buried family history, strained relationships, and truths that have lingered unspoken for years. I appreciated the way the novel explores mother-daughter tension — the complexity of loving someone while not fully understanding them. Watching Finley slowly piece together her mother’s past while reassessing her own future adds emotional depth to the story.

The summer setting — the diner, the lake, the group of teens working long shifts together — creates that classic small-community atmosphere Dessen does so well. There’s a sense of found family that feels genuine and heartfelt. At the same time, I did feel that the cast was quite large, and occasionally I struggled to clearly distinguish each character’s traits and development. A bit more layering and sharper differentiation between them would have made some of the relationships feel stronger and more memorable.

The romance unfolds gently. Ben offers a contrast to Finley’s past relationship — quieter, steadier, less about performance and more about presence. Their connection grows naturally over shared moments rather than dramatic declarations. Still, I would have welcomed a little more depth to fully ground their emotional arc.

The heart of the book remains Finley’s personal growth. Her journey isn’t loud or rebellious; it’s gradual. She learns to sit with uncertainty. She begins to make decisions for herself rather than defaulting to someone else’s plans. That internal shift is subtle but meaningful.

If I’m being honest, the ending felt slightly rushed to me. After such a slow, reflective build, I would have liked a bit more space to fully settle into the emotional resolution and see where everyone truly lands. That said, the themes of self-discovery, family reconciliation, and stepping out of the shadows still resonated.

Overall, this felt like a thoughtful, introspective return — familiar in tone, comforting in atmosphere, though not without a few areas where I wanted deeper character refinement and a more expansive closing. I’m rounding my rating up from 3.5 to 4 stars because, despite its imperfections, it left me with that warm, contemplative feeling that keeps me coming back to Dessen’s books.

A very huge and heartfelt thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for providing this coming-of-age, inspirational YA novel in exchange for my honest feedback. I truly appreciate the opportunity to read and share my thoughts.

[Haley Sparks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah Dessen was THE formative author of my adolescence. I still remember checking her books from my middle school library, devouring them, and continuing to seek out her work and curl up with it all throughout my young adulthood. Because of those associations, her writing is so comforting to me. It’s the voice I grew up with and it feels like coming home. I was thrilled when I found out she had a new book coming out in 2026 after a 7 YEAR hiatus. I could not snatch it up from NetGalley fast enough!

It brings me no joy at all to report that while there was nothing obviously “wrong,” with this book, I just did not connect to it like I have with her older work. Now is the time where I ruminate on whether perhaps despite all the nostalgia I just waxed, maybe I’ve outgrown her work? It’s certainly possible. This has all Dessen’s trademarks almost to the point I feel like I’d read this story before—there’s an MC with a somewhat unique name who goes to a new location, has a complicated relationship with her mom, meets a sweet musician love interest who she convenes with in the middle of the night (Dessen loves insomnia!) and finds quirky and lovable new friends. Sadly, in some of her past books, I feel like she executed all these trademarks better. When I started the book, I struggled connecting with it, but I trusted that I was in safe hands with Dessen and that eventually the kinks would iron themselves out and a lot of them just never did for me. I struggled to keep the large cast of quirky side characters and family straight, and didn’t feel much connection between the MC (a bad sign that I forget her name already…) and Ben. The ending is also EXTREMELY abrupt and I was convinced I was missing pages at the end or something.

Maybe it was wrong of me to assume that after 7 years, Dessen would be back with a fresh angle on her old tricks. I love her trademarks and was by no means expecting a complete reinvention, but this honestly felt stale. I was excited to see how her writing would adapt to today’s young adults and I’m not sure it did. I think her loyal fans will read and enjoy this, but if this was my first Sarah Dessen book, I don’t think I’d be compelled to pick up a second. Ugh, it kills me to write that.

To be clear, I will continue to read anything Dessen writes, even when I’m old and grey and I’m thrilled she’s back. And like I said, there’s nothing overtly “bad” here. However, this wasn’t the comeback I was hoping for and while the writing felt familiar because it’s Dessen’s exact formula, it didn’t feel like the homecoming I was expecting it to when I downloaded the ARC and settled in. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was ready to reconnect with my younger self here in the safety of Dessen’s words and it just didn’t happen with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[E W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grateful to NetGalley and Sarah Dessen for the opportunity to read this early and share my honest thoughts.

In Change of Plans, Finley’s carefully imagined post-graduation summer unravels almost immediately, forcing her out of the comfortable role she’s always played in someone else’s life and into unfamiliar territory with her estranged maternal family. At a lake house full of buried history and at her aunt’s bustling diner, she begins forming new friendships and tentative romantic feelings that challenge who she thought she was. As old relationships shift and long-standing family tensions surface, Finley is left to figure out what remains when the roadmap she relied on disappears — and who she might become when she finally steps forward on her own.

Reading Sarah Dessen again felt like slipping into something both familiar and newly resonant. The emotional slow-burn is still very much her signature, but this time I found myself paying just as much attention to the adults as to the romance. As a younger reader, I might have focused solely on the heartbreak and the butterflies. Now, I found myself understanding the mother’s distance, the weight of family estrangement, and the quiet grief beneath the surface. That added a depth I wouldn’t have noticed years ago.

The friendships at the diner and the sense of found family give the story its warmth, while the blossoming romance unfolds with that perfectly awkward, hopeful energy that Dessen captures so well. The small gestures, the hesitations, the blush-worthy moments — they felt authentic and earned rather than dramatic for the sake of drama.

What resonated most was watching Finley slowly step out of the shadow she’s lived in. The shifts are subtle but meaningful. This isn’t a loud transformation — it’s a gradual one. And that felt true.

The ending felt heartfelt and satisfying, with a touch of unexpected humor that made me genuinely laugh out loud. Dessen balances tenderness and lightness beautifully, and I loved that even in emotionally weighty moments, there was space for something delightfully chaotic and memorable. It left me smiling — and honestly hoping for more. I would absolutely read a sequel, because I’m not ready to let these characters go just yet.

This story reminded me what it feels like to be young and on the edge of change — when everything feels uncertain, but possibility is everywhere. A gentle but powerful reminder that sometimes losing the plan is exactly what allows you to find yourself.


Quintessential Dessen — tender, nostalgic, quietly transformative, and a full five stars from me.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a lwhile since we last got a new novel from Sarah Dessen, so picking up Change of Plans felt a little like revisiting a familiar place you haven’t been in years. There’s something instantly recognizable about her storytelling—quietly emotional, deeply character-driven, and full of the kinds of relationships that shape who we become.

That said, longtime Dessen readers may notice that the setup here feels very reminiscent of Along for the Ride. Finley’s situation checks a lot of the same boxes: a somewhat distant mother, an academic father, a stepmother and younger half-sibling(s), and a post-graduation summer trip to a beachy/lakeside town where she meets people who challenge her assumptions about life. None of that is necessarily a bad thing—those ingredients are classic Dessen—but the parallels are hard not to notice if you’ve read her earlier work.

As always, the sense of place is one of the book’s strongest elements. Dessen has a talent for making small towns feel vivid and lived-in, and between the lake house, the local diner, and the surrounding community, it was easy to picture every scene. I especially loved the found-family dynamic that develops with Finley’s relatives and the group she meets over the course of the summer. Those relationships ended up being some of the most memorable parts of the story.

Finley herself was easy to root for. Watching her slowly step out of the shadow of her long-term boyfriend and start making choices for herself felt like the emotional core of the book. Her growth is gradual and quiet rather than dramatic, which makes it feel grounded and believable.

The romance, however, didn’t quite land for me. I really wanted to like Ben, and on paper he has a lot going for him. Both he and Finley are interesting characters with their own backstories and personal growth arcs, but I never fully felt that spark between them. Their relationship had sweet moments, but the chemistry just didn’t quite click in the way I was hoping.

Overall, Change of Plans still feels like slipping back into a familiar, comforting storytelling style. It’s a reflective coming-of-age story about family, unexpected friendships, and learning that sometimes the life you planned isn’t the one that helps you grow the most. Fans of Sarah Dessen will likely appreciate being back in her world, even if parts of the journey feel a little familiar.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

[Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading Sarah Dessen since I was a teenager, and now that I’ve just turned 40, picking up one of her books always feels a little like coming home. She has such a gift for creating characters you immediately root for and capturing that messy, emotional transition into adulthood.

I was especially excited to read Change of Plans, since it’s been seven years since Dessen released her last novel. And to get an ARC? Even better!

The story follows Finley, who has always been comfortable living in someone else’s shadow, especially her charismatic boyfriend Colin. But when she unexpectedly spends the summer at a family vacation house she didn’t even know existed, surrounded by relatives her mother has been estranged from for years, the future she thought she had mapped out quickly falls apart. Over the course of the summer, Finley begins to build her own friendships, find her own voice, and figure out who she is when she’s not following someone else’s plans.

As always with Dessen, the characters and sense of place are the highlight. I loved Finley’s extended family, the found-family atmosphere at The Egg diner, and especially Lana. Dessen’s worlds always feel warm, lived-in, and emotionally real.

That said, this one didn’t quite pull me in the way her books usually do. The pacing felt uneven, and the ending came up surprisingly quickly. When I realized I only had about twenty minutes left, I was shocked; several storylines felt like they wrapped up a little too abruptly.

I also wasn’t fully convinced by the romance with Ben. It felt a bit rushed after Finley’s breakup with Colin, and honestly, the story didn’t really need it. Finley’s growth through her friendships, family relationships, and her time working at The Egg was compelling enough on its own.

Even so, this was still a warm, enjoyable summer read. Dessen remains incredibly good at building characters you care about and capturing the emotional complexity of growing up. While this isn’t my favorite of her books, longtime fans will still find plenty to appreciate.

🌟🌟🌟 💫 rounded up for Dessen's exceptional writing and nosalgia

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, and Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Heather Rochon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free e-ARC of Change of Plans from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second time getting an ARC of a Sarah Dessen book, so it’s already been established that I’m a fan from a long time ago. But what’s more exciting is that it’s Dessen’s first book in seven years.

Change of Plans is a romantic, coming of age novel about Finley, a recent high school graduate who has her future all planned out. A brief summer trip with her kind-of absent mother, then spending the rest of the summer with her friends and her perfect boyfriend Colin before they head off to college together. But then the trip to New York City with her mom changes into a trip to her mom’s family’s vacation home, The Woods. Finley is suddenly thrust into a whole new world, meeting family she barely knows, exploring a town she never knew existed, and befriending the staff at her aunt’s diner, the Egg. Oh and her boyfriend just happens to dump her, too. Not exactly as planned, after all.

A lot of what I love about Sarah Dessen books are present in Change of Plans. Witty banter, quirky characters, memorable locations, inside jokes, and even a callback to other books, if you’re paying close enough attention. After such a long time of not reading one of her books, this felt like a welcome home hug. Reading about Finley working at the diner and helping with her cousin’s wedding felt familiar because so many of the other books have diners and weddings, but it also didn’t feel stale or tired.

One thing I do love the most about Dessen’s books are her guys. And this is where Change of Plans kind of disappointed. Ben and Colin were bland. The love interests felt flat compared to everyone else in the story. And maybe Colin was meant to be that way, but Ben? I was not rooting for him. I often forgot about him if he wasn’t on the page.

Overall, I was invested in Finley and her family’s drama. I was excited to read this and I loved getting back into the Sarah Dessen world. It was also not my favorite because of Ben and because the end felt incomplete. If you’re a long-time fan, you’ll still want to pick this up for that nostalgia.

Change of Plans is out on May 5, 2026.

3.5/5 Stars.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgally, publishers and the author for the opportunity to review this book.

One of the first books I picked up when I was younger and decided to get back into reading was Dreamland and it went on from there. I’ve read most of her books and have always been so fascinated with them. This book did not disappoint in the least. The characters, the location, the storyline I enjoyed every bit of it.

We meet Finley who is just embarking on the rest of her life but before she starts school she’s spending time with her mother. Who unexpectedly decides to go back to her hometown to take care of some stuff. I always loved how there is such a great setting in Sarah Dessen’s books, this is the south country but strong family ties.

Finley learned a lot about her mother that summer, but most importantly she learned a lot about herself. I hope that she makes better choices for herself. I really can’t say much about what happens throughout the book because really, I think you should read it. There is a great story about family, secrets and getting over them. Sometimes you just have to learn that you don’t have to burden yourself with things, it’s best to spread the secrets to those closest to you as again it’s just a burden no one should carry.

There is also a lot about relationships, with Finley recently out of one only to find a boy who really gets her. Their relationship is new, fresh and even though super awkward it’s endearing and loving and they are just so good to watch and read about. You just can’t help but root for them in all the right ways.

There is also friendship, sometimes people just automatically make themselves your best friend but then again perhaps it was something you needed all along. That bond that is so strong, everyone should have at least once in their lives.

Overall, the book had a lot of great story plots, the setting, the story I can’t get enough. I wouldn’t mind finding out what happens after this summer is completed, where do the characters go from here. They were all so fun and relatable. I cried, I laughed and I swooned with the best of them. Amazing book, really.

Let's not forget the hummingbirds!